Our Conservation Work
We love the ocean, and we love diving.
We often describe ourselves as a conservation project masquerading as a dive shop.
Yes we take people out to the world famous reefs and wrecks of Beqa Lagoon and above all, to our flagship product, the Fiji Shark Dive. But these commercial activities are merely a means to our ultimate aim which is to protect the Sharks of Fiji.
Since our inception in 2004, we have been pursuing an agenda of pairing tourism with research, conservation and cooperation with local authorities. We collaborate with the Ministry of Fisheries, and local communities at the grass roots level.
Although our primary goal is to protect Sharks, we understand that species protection is only successful if coupled with habitat conservation. We strongly believe in the ethical imperative that we need to assume the stewardship of the areas we dive in and from which we derive our sustenance, not only because we really do love the ocean but also, because this is nothing more than good, sustainable business.
We find ourselves fortunate that many indigenous Fijian tribes hold a traditional cultural respect for Sharks, it is because of this that our coastal Shark populations remain relatively stable. As the cash economy continues to progress and those cultural traditions are being eroded, Fiji’s marine ecosystems are however increasingly coming under pressure.
Our approach has been that to involve and to compensate the local stakeholders and we thus very much enjoy the support of the local community and notably, of the local fishermen who have witnessed a miraculous recovery of their fishing yields close to the reserve.
Our notable achievements include:
2004: Shark Reef Marine Reserve
The establishment of Shark Reef Marine Reserve, Fiji’s, and quite possibly the world’s first MPA dedicated to Shark conservation and Shark research, this in close co-operation with the then Ministry of Fisheries and the village of Galoa (pronounced Nah-low-ah).
A user fee goes to the village of Galoa, in exchange for not fishing there. Marine park levies since disbursed to the village total over FJD 450,000.00. Furthermore, BAD pay voluntary reef fees to several villages in the neighborhood.
A youth program provides for education and sustainable income by training unemployed youth to become dive professionals. So far, all successful candidates have been subsequently hired by BAD. Fish wardens trained in cooperation with the Ministry of Fisheries ensure enforcement of the fishing ban.
We are also facilitating numerous research projects that have already resulted in over two dozen scientific publications.
2006: AON Excellence in Tourism Award, Diving
BAD receives the prestigious AON Excellence in Tourism Award for Diving.
2009: Fiji Shark Conservation Awareness Project
Development and coordination of this project is in contribution to the International Year of the Shark, the only such national event world-wide and Fiji’s first national Shark conservation campaign. This project was supported by the vast majority of Fiji’s dive operators, NGOs but also interested Government Departments. BAD also produces Fiji’s first Shark Conservation PSA.
2009-2010: Shark Free Marinas
BAD conducts a drive for Shark Free Marinas together with Matava, where Fiji remains one of the foremost participating countries with 24 adherents.
2010-2011: Mangroves For Fiji
This is a world first which offers an opportunity to offset your carbon footprint by sponsoring the planting of mangroves, a critical and endangered habitat and an excellent carbon sink.
As of September, 2011, BAD is the planet’s first completely carbon neutral dive operator, this after sponsoring the planting of 330,000 mangrove trees.
We are planting more mangroves to offset the carbon footprint of our clients traveling to Fiji, again a world first. This project has been conducted in cooperation with numerous local Fijian communities and across the country. Not only are they being educated in ecological awareness, but they have earned a sustainable income to the tune of approx. FJD 30,000.00. The list of mangrove planters can be viewed here. As of 2013, the running of the project has been delegated to Projects Abroad.
2012: AON Excellence in Tourism Award, Sustainable Tourism
A prestigious peer-review award given in recognition of individuals and organizations who have gone that extra mile to develop National Tourism and in so doing, have inspired others to share their vision of a buoyant and enduring service industry of supreme national importance.
2012-2016: The Great Fiji Shark Count
The first national Shark count in the world and it unites the tourism industry, Government and various NGOs. The purpose was to create a recurring tourism attraction but more importantly, to start long-term monitoring of Fiji’s Shark, Ray and Turtle populations in order to collect long-term data and facilitate the optimal management of these precious resources. The counts were conducted during the months of April and November and discontinued after 5 years in 2016. This citizen science project will be reactivated once Fiji enacts country-wide Shark protection, as these counts constitute an important baseline for measuring future developments.
2013: Shark Conservation Volunteering
The creation of Fiji’s first, biggest and most successful Shark-centric voluntourism program together with our partners Projects Abroad.
2014: Global Shark Diving
BAD is the founding member of the world’s first alliance of responsible conservation-minded Shark diving operators.
2014: Fiji's First National Marine Park
After more than ten years of advocacy, blood, sweat and tears, Fiji’s First National Marine Park, Shark Reef Marine Reserve (see above) becomes a formally legislated, and enforceable MPA. In a global first, BAD as a for-profit entity has been tasked with the day-to-day management in a ground-breaking PPP (public private partnership). In that function and on top of our dive business, we continue to monitor the reef and its fauna, enforce the no-fishing ban and conduct regular reef checks and ongoing research, all of which we pay for out of cash flow.
2016: ANZ Excellence in Tourism Award, Tourism Sustainability
A particularly valuable award which acknowledges the efforts and contributions made by individuals and organisations who have successfully implemented environmentally sustainable initiatives, demonstrable by long-term commitment and performance. It also recognises the promotion, development and engagement with the Fijian people and operators understanding of Fiji’s Green Growth Framework.
2018: My Fiji Shark
With support from the UNDP, BAD creates the most unique and arguably the most popular shark adoption in the world. Proceeds from the program are earmarked for research, conservation, construction a Shark Lab, and assisting Fiji in the implementation of its forthcoming Shark Regulations for which BAD has provided draft work.
2021-2024: Post Covid Measures
Fiji’s marine ecosystems have been severely affected by widespread poaching and overfishing due to the covid-induced economic downturn, and by multiple large-scale coral bleaching events due to an unprecedented triple-dip La Niña. We have embarked on a program of monitoring, mitigation and enforcement in cooperation with the UNDP, UNEP and the Global Fund for Coral Reefs as follows
- Comprehensive benthic and coral bleaching surveys, and fish + indicator species counts in order to evaluate the damage to reef ecosystems versus previously established baselines
- Aggressive anti-poaching patrols in cooperation with Fisheries and the Navy
- Further surveys to evaluate any rebound rates after renewed monitoring and enforcement
- Establishment of coral nursery in order to reseed the SRMR with heat-tolerant corals
- Establishment of a Giant Clam Nursery to reseed the SRMR
2023: New Headquarters
Purpose-built on our own waterfront land and housing several buildings, the compound comprises the reception and boutique, dive training facilities including a deep pool, The Fiji Shark Lab, a repair shop, ample storage, client amenities, floating docks and a slipway for our two purpose-built hydrofoil catamarans, and operates several compressors and a large emergency power plant.
This establishes a new standard for Fiji’s diving industry.
2024: The Fiji Shark Lab
BAD launches a research field station on its compound called Viti Leucas Society, a non-profit Charitable Trust D.B.A. Fiji Shark Lab.
The mission of the Fiji Shark Lab is to advance our scientific knowledge of sharks and rays; support new conservation measures in support of sharks and rays; to provide education and outreach; and to share the results from our fieldwork through public dissemination. Lab construction and outfitting funded by My Fiji Shark and the UNDP Investing in Coral Reefs and the Blue Economy Project. The Lab currently has several research and conservation projects underway.
2024: 20th Anniversary!
We do not claim to have established the first shark dive in Fiji – but by pioneering Fiji’s , and possibly the worlds first fully integrated shark tourism, research and conservation project, we are globally recognised as the gold standard for having developed a model that pairs respectful safe and sustainable shark encounters with research and conservation whilst collaborating with the authorities and sharing revenue with local grassroots communities.
As such, we’ve been instrumental in establishing Fiji’ world-renown Shark ecotourism industry, an extremely attractive and lucrative niche product where our model is now being emulated by several of our peers.
Our yearly contribution to Fiji’s economy is approx. FJD 1.5m in direct and an estimated FJD 10m in indirect revenues from airlines, accommodation, restaurants, tours, souvenirs, etc. As a whole, Fiji’s shark dives have been shown to contribute over USD 40 million to our local economy – and this sustainably and without any adverse effects on the animals and the ecosystem.
Our list of achievements is unmatched.
In our 20 years of existence, we have
- Successfully serviced over 50,000 satisfied dive tourists
- Contributed over FJD 20 million in direct, and FJD 150 million in indirect revenues to Fiji’s economy
- Trained over 50 extremely well-qualified and well-paid diving professionals and over 500 SCUBA divers. Most of our Dive Masters are graduates of our youth program that supports school leavers who would not have otherwise found employment.
- On top of several millions in wages, directly contributed over FJD 500,000.00 to local grassroots communities
- Facilitated the publication of over two dozen scientific reports and peer reviewed research papers
- Pioneered the legislation leading to the establishment of Fiji’s first National Marine Park, the Shark Reef Marine Reserve along with several gazetted, and thus enforceable MPAs.
- Sponsored the training of over 50 honorary fish wardens, among which many of our staff.
- Pioneered Fiji’s first Public-Private Partnership in Marine Conservation
- Helped restore more than 50 hectares of mangrove forests
- Launched the Fiji Shark Lab, the first non-profit dedicated to the research and conservation of sharks and rays in Fiji
- Been mentioned in literally countless print, video and social media by the most prestigious quarters
2025: ANZ Excellence in Tourism Awards, Dive Operator of the Year
Based on a thorough review by our industry peers, this is our 4th Excellence in Tourism Award in recognition of all the hard work of the past 20 years, cementing our position as one of Fiji’s preeminent tourism operators.